topical
adjective
top·i·cal ˈtä-pi-kəl 
1
a
: referring to the topics of the day or place : of local or temporary interest
a topical novel
topical references
b
: of, relating to, or arranged by topics
set down in topical form
2
: designed for or involving local application and action (as on the body)
a topical anesthetic
a topical remedy
topically
ˈtä-pi-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Did you know?
Like a topical medicine, a topical reference or story applies to something specific, focusing on a topic that's currently in the news. TV comedians often use topical humor, making jokes about a currently popular movie or the latest political scandal—if possible, one that just broke that same day. Topical humor has a short lifespan, though, because the news keeps changing and the new hot topics just keep coming. The medical meaning of topical stays closer to the meaning of the root, since it describes something that's put right on the place that seems to need it.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Even if the 1700s differs from our own time the theme is painfully topical. 
Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 Sep. 2022 However, most intent data is topical and should be used for top-of-funnel marketing campaigns. Vinay Bhagat, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Despite high rates of COVID-19 locally, Lollapalooza did not require masking or vaccination for entry, following the lead of standards set by the Chicago and Illinois departments of public health; such requirements were topical last year. Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2022 The Jennifer Hudson Show will feature celebrity interviews, topical stories, community heroes, viral sensations, and music. Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2022 The line between empathy and topical colonialism can be a difficult one for a documentary filmmaker to walk. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 The site also hosts The Puberty Portal, a series of short topical posts that are, Natterson says, the only such content written by and for tweens and teens. WIRED, 31 Aug. 2022 Clinical trials are underway for NES/T, a hormonal topical gel that’s applied daily to the shoulders and absorbed by the skin. Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 29 Aug. 2022 Neosporin, a topical antibiotic, has become a product that some dermatologists have condemned. Parizaad Khan Sethi, Allure, 24 Aug. 2022 See More
Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 Sep. 2022 However, most intent data is topical and should be used for top-of-funnel marketing campaigns. Vinay Bhagat, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Despite high rates of COVID-19 locally, Lollapalooza did not require masking or vaccination for entry, following the lead of standards set by the Chicago and Illinois departments of public health; such requirements were topical last year. Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2022 The Jennifer Hudson Show will feature celebrity interviews, topical stories, community heroes, viral sensations, and music. Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2022 The line between empathy and topical colonialism can be a difficult one for a documentary filmmaker to walk. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 The site also hosts The Puberty Portal, a series of short topical posts that are, Natterson says, the only such content written by and for tweens and teens. WIRED, 31 Aug. 2022 Clinical trials are underway for NES/T, a hormonal topical gel that’s applied daily to the shoulders and absorbed by the skin. Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 29 Aug. 2022 Neosporin, a topical antibiotic, has become a product that some dermatologists have condemned. Parizaad Khan Sethi, Allure, 24 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Medical Definition
topical
adjective
top·i·cal ˈtäp-i-kəl
: designed for or involving application to or action on the surface of a part of the body
applied a topical anesthetic to numb the skin
eyedrops used in the topical treatment of glaucoma